Profile-enabled dynamic runtime environment for web application servers

Abstract

Techniques are disclosed for allowing administrators to manage runtime environments (RTEs). An RTE configuration component prompts for metadata characterizing a plurality of dynamically configurable runtime environments (RTE) for executing data queries. The RTE configuration component generates an RTE definition to associate with each of the plurality of RTEs. When a query is received for execution, the RTE configuration component dynamically configures the server computing system for query execution according to a selected one of the plurality of RTE definitions.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A computer-readable storage medium storing instructions executable to perform an operation to manage runtime environments (RTEs), the operation comprising:
 receiving, by a server computing system, a set of runtime environment (RTE) properties characterizing a plurality of dynamically configurable RTEs for executing data queries, wherein each of the plurality of dynamically configurable RTEs corresponds to a respective set of data libraries from a plurality of sets of data libraries, wherein each set of data libraries is distinct and stores data according to a predefined schema common across the plurality of RTEs, wherein each set of data libraries is isolated by being hosted on a respective, distinct virtual machine, wherein a respective RTE definition is generated to associate with each of the plurality of RTEs; 
 upon receiving a query from a requesting entity logged in via a current virtual machine, dynamically determining one of the plurality of RTEs to execute the query against, wherein the RTE is determined based on a profile corresponding to the requesting entity, wherein the profile is selected from a user profile and a group profile, wherein the determined RTE is associated with one or more exit programs and one or more exit program libraries; 
 upon determining that the server computing system is currently configured to access the set of data libraries corresponding to a given one, of the plurality of RTEs, that does not match the determined RTE, dynamically reconfiguring the server computing system to access the set of data libraries corresponding to the determined RTE, wherein the server computing system is dynamically reconfigured by operation of at least one computer processor without requiring any server restart and without requiring any logging in via a different virtual machine than the current virtual machine; and 
 prior to executing the query against the set of data libraries corresponding to the determined RTE, dynamically modifying the query using the one or more exit programs and the one or more exit program libraries associated with the determined RTE, wherein the dynamically modified query is executed against the set of data libraries corresponding to the determined RTE on the dynamically reconfigured server computing system in order to generate a set of results that is output to the requesting entity. 
 
     
     
       2. The computer readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the set of RTE properties identifies the set of data libraries to associate with the RTE in the RTE definition associated with the RTE. 
     
     
       3. The computer readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the operation further comprises associating the user profile with at least a first one of the RTEs. 
     
     
       4. The computer readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the operation further comprises associating at least a first one of the RTEs with the group profile. 
     
     
       5. The computer readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the operation further comprises configuring at least a first one of the RTEs as a default RTE for executing data queries. 
     
     
       6. The computer readable storage medium of  claim 1 , wherein the operation further comprises associating the one or more exit programs and the one or more exit program libraries with the determined RTE. 
     
     
       7. A system to manage runtime environments (RTEs), the system comprising:
 at least one computer processor; and 
 a memory hosting an application which, when executed on the at least one computer processor, performs an operation comprising:
 receiving a set of runtime environment (RTE) properties characterizing a plurality of dynamically configurable RTEs for executing data queries, wherein each of the plurality of dynamically configurable RTEs corresponds to a respective set of data libraries from a plurality of sets of data libraries, wherein each set of data libraries is distinct and stores data according to a predefined schema common across the plurality of RTEs, wherein each set of data libraries is isolated by being hosted on a respective, distinct virtual machine, wherein a respective RTE definition is generated to associate with each of the plurality of RTEs; 
 upon receiving a query from a requesting entity logged in via a current virtual machine, dynamically determining one of the plurality of RTEs to execute the query against, wherein the RTE is determined based on a profile corresponding to the requesting entity, wherein the profile is selected from a user profile and a group profile, wherein the determined RTE is associated with one or more exit programs and one or more exit program libraries; 
 upon determining that the system is currently configured to access the set of data libraries corresponding to a given one, of the plurality of RTEs that does not match the determined RTE, dynamically reconfiguring the system to access the set of data libraries corresponding to the determined RTE, wherein the system is dynamically reconfigured without requiring any server restart and without requiring any logging in via a different virtual machine than the current virtual machine; and 
 prior to executing the query against the set of data libraries corresponding to the determined RTE, dynamically modifying the query using the one or more exit programs and the one or more exit program libraries associated with the determined RTE, wherein the dynamically modified query is executed against the set of data libraries corresponding to the determined RTE on the dynamically reconfigured system in order to generate a set of results that is output to the requesting entity. 
 
 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the set of RTE properties identifies the set of one or more data libraries to associate with the RTE in the RTE definition associated with the RTE. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the system comprises a server computing system, wherein the application is configured to, upon determining that the server computing system is already configured for query execution according to the selected RTE definition, cause execution of the query without requiring the server computing system to be reconfigured, without requiring any server restart, and without requiring any logging in via a different virtual machine than the current virtual machine. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 9 , wherein the query is modified: (i) to become a case insensitive search and (ii) to track data from set of data libraries accessed by the submitting entity, wherein the set of RTE properties identifies the set of data libraries to associate with the RTE in the RTE definition associated with the RTE. 
     
     
       11. The system of  claim 10 , wherein the operation further comprises:
 associating the user profile with the determined RTE; 
 associating the determined RTE with a group profile; 
 configuring the determined RTE as a default RTE for executing data queries; and 
 associating the one or more exit programs and the one or more exit program libraries with the determined RTE. 
 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 11 , wherein the application comprises a web query application operatively connected to a runtime environment of a web browser, wherein the RTE is automatically selected based on the user profile and the group profile, wherein the query is received from a requesting entity via the runtime environment. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 12 , wherein the operation further comprises:
 generating a report from the set of results obtained from executing the query; and 
 transmitting the report to the requesting entity. 
 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 13 , wherein the one or more exit programs are invoked by the web query application in order to modify the query, wherein each RTE definition is modifiable via an RTE configuration component;
 wherein the one or more exit program libraries are accessible only by the one or more exit programs, wherein the web query application is operatively connected to a database management system for a database storing the set of data libraries for the determined RTE. 
 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 14 , wherein the web query application, the database management system, the web browser, the one or more exit programs, and the RTE configuration component are distinct applications;
 wherein the web query application is configured to access a specified set of tables stored in the database, the specified set of tables including an RTE user table, an active RTE user table, and an RTE definition table. 
 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the user RTE table includes: (i) an RTE identifier field and (ii) an RTE username field. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 16 , wherein the active RTE user table includes: (i) an RTE identifier field and (ii) an RTE username field. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 17 , wherein the RTE definition table includes: (i) an RTE identifier field; (ii) an RTE username field; (iii) an RTE description field; (iv) an RTE libraries field; (v) an RTE exit program field; and (vi) an RTE exit program library field. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the operation further comprises associating at least a first one of the RTEs with the group profile. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 7 , wherein the operation further comprises configuring at least a first one of the RTEs as a default RTE for executing data queries.